Kensington And Chelsea (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Kensington and Chelsea Council bans knocking down walls and tunnels between properties under its new Local Plan, imposing strict rules on supersized homes.
Since 2019, Kensington and Chelsea Council has enforced a policy of “restricting” these projects, which necessitates planning permission.
The new proposal states that the council and Westminster, a nearby city, have also prohibited home builders from constructing new apartments larger than 150 square meters, or 1,600 square feet.
Edward Towers, director of Aykroyd & Co. estate agents, said,
“On the one hand there is the argument that if you merge three flats into one home then two families miss out.
On the other, a lot of these flats were created out of properties which were originally single homes in the first place. A few years back councils were encouraging developers to build more family sized units, because there is a shortage.”
“There is already a pressure on pricing, because there is a shortage of blue chip property,”
He explained.
In order to maintain the housing stock and satisfy government-set housing targets, Kensington and Chelsea Council will continue to implement its policy of limiting house amalgamations through 2025.
Financial goals for 2025–2029 are outlined in the council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy, which also makes predictions for increases in council taxes and adult social care precepts. The council’s overarching goals, such as housing construction and community assistance programs, are supported by this plan.
How are the other councils in London following these rules of banning supersized homes?
With different levels of success, other councils in London are attempting to stop the amalgamations.
According to Tower, the ban will increase the value of supersized residences in central London, perhaps making owners sit on goldmines when the time comes to sell.
An appeal filed by the long-time owner of a riverside flat on Albert Embankment against Lambeth Council’s decision to deny planning permission for them to combine it with the flat next door, which they had recently purchased, was upheld by the High Court last year.
Additionally, Strictly Come Dancing winner Bill Bailey’s intentions to combine two apartments into a single residence with a swimming pool in the backyard were granted by Hammersmith and Fulham in 2018; however, the pandemic caused a delay in the project.
However, a year prior, Global Radio founder Ashley Taboor had been denied permission by Westminster Council to merge two penthouses in Knightsbridge into a single £200 million home with 10 bedrooms and features, including a massage room, manicure salon, and hair salon.
In leafy north London, the most well-known property merger of all took place. Jamie Oliver purchased a townhouse in Primrose Hill in 2008. He then built a 10-bedroom family residence to live in with his wife Jools, and their five kids after buying the matching property next door.
The Olivers had to deduct about £2 million from the home’s initial asking price of £12 million when they chose to move in 2016 since there was little demand for such a large house. In 2022, it sold for £15 million.
How are Keningston and Chelsea Council actively working on restricting supersized homes?
By merging many sites, Kensington and Chelsea Council has been actively attempting to limit the construction of “supersized” residences.
The council implemented a policy in 2019 to “resist” combining more than two different properties into one residence. This was carried out in order to satisfy government-set housing targets and maintain the housing stock.
The regulation, which struck a balance between permitting some property improvements and prohibiting excessive amalgamations, stated that the maximum size of an amalgamated new residence may exceed 170 square meters.
According to the council, only 77 of the 276 petitions for property merging that it has received since 2018 have been approved. This suggests a strict strategy for handling such demands and protecting the current housing stock.
The council wants to maintain a varied housing supply that serves residents, including those in need of smaller, more affordable flats, by restricting the construction of huge homes.
Additionally, since 2016, the council has imposed limitations on basement construction, requiring planning clearance for all basement projects. The said modification was implemented in response to environmental damage, noise, and disturbance concerns.
In order to keep people from losing their homes, the council has also prohibited, with very few exceptions, the conversion of homes in multiple occupations into studio apartments.